Jon Bon Jovi’s Son Wins a Spot on Notre Dame’s Football Team

Notre Dame fan Jon Bon Jovi has some extra incentive to catch the team's football games this season.

The rocker's son, Jesse Bongiovi, has achieved his previously reported goal of making the Notre Dame football squad as a walk-on player. According to Fox News, the 5'9", 183-pound Bongiovi will play cornerback for the team -- and while his somewhat diminutive size might seem like something of an impediment, head coach Brian Kelly assured reporters that Bongiovi's famous dad had nothing to do with him making the cut.

"Jesse has earned his spot," said Kelly. "He’s a tough kid. The kids really like him. They respect him. They don’t look at him as a rock star’s son. They look at him as a kid that loves Notre Dame and wants to play football and help this team."

The Philadelphia Inquirer notes that Bongiovi is just one of several second-generation stars on the team this season. The Fighting Irish also boasts a number of players whose fathers played in the NFL, including Devaris Daniels (son of former Seahawks defensive end Phillip Daniels), Austin Collinsworth (son of former Bengals receiver and current NFL analyst Chris Collinsworth) and George and Josh Atkinson, sons of former Raiders defensive back George Atkinson.

Bon Jovi has made appearances at Notre Dame games over the years and counts former coach Charlie Weis among his friends. In fact, he once shared the stage with Weis and New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, with whom he's been friendly since the '80s.